Former Industrial Dockland Regeneration, Wirral Waters

Client: Peel Land and Property
Date: 2019 – 2020
Nature of works: Remediation and Enabling
Contract Value: £2.1m

Soilfix carried out remediation and enabling works on several derelict sites for Europe’s largest Urban Regeneration Scheme

The Challenge

The North Bank phase of the Wirral Waters Regeneration scheme comprised over 6Ha of former industrial, warehousing & Dockland undergoing extensive regeneration following over 200 years of industrial use.  The site included a former dry dock that had been landfilled in the 1980s, and significant in-ground structures were present.  Heavy bombing during WWII had also resulted in a high UXO risk, particularly within the infilled dock. In addition, sections of the site were deemed to be of significant archaeological value, and as a consequence, the remedial works were conducted alongside extensive archaeological excavations and controls.

Our Solution

Soilfix designed and delivered the following remedial solutions to enable regeneration of this important site and its return to beneficial use:

• Thorough turnover/probing of the made ground on all parcels of land;
• Breakout / removal and processing of over 10,000m³ slabs & sub-structures for re-use;
• Excavation and processing of over 30,000m³ soils;
• Ex-situ bioremediation of hydrocarbon contaminated soils;
• Installation of a low permeability in-ground barrier within the infilled dock to reduce the risk of contaminants migrating into the adjacent surface water ;
• Off-site disposal/recycling of separated asbestos, rubbish, tyres, metal, timbers etc.;
• Reinstatement to development platform levels & placement of primary capping layer. This included the construction of hybrid piling platforms to enable the subsequent construction programme; and,
• Comprehensive environmental monitoring & controls including measures to monitor and protect highly sensitive rare bird breeding grounds immediately adjacent to the site.

Soilfix successfully completed site works ahead of programme and with no lost time accidents, facilitating the ongoing urban regeneration of this key area of Birkenhead.

Of a total of over 50,000m³ materials generated, over 99% of materials reuse was achieved.